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National Centers of Excellence in Youth Violence Prevention

Youth violence is a major public health issue for both individuals and communities. Each year, more than 5,000 youths between the ages of 15 and 24 die by homicide, making homicide the second leading cause of death for this age group. CDC's Division of Violence Prevention funds six National Centers of Excellence in Youth Violence Prevention (formerly, Academic Centers of Excellence):

From 2010 to 2015 the National Centers of Excellence will work to reduce youth violence in one defined high–risk community by implementing and evaluating a comprehensive strategy to prevent youth violence. The Centers are expected to engage in collaborations among researchers and local organizations (including the local health department) and a defined high-risk community, with the common goal of reducing youth violence. Centers will consist of 3 core features:

A core administrative infrastructure to support implementation and evaluation activities, to foster necessary collaborations, and to work together as a Youth Violence Prevention Network